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Best DAC for iPhone - Volvo Car Play Connection?

Hello,

I'm attempting to improve the audio playback in my car.  I have a newer Volvo with  a Bowers & Wilkins sound system.  I'm streaming Tidal audio through my iPhone. The iPhone is connected to the Volvo Car Play via a standard lighting connector to USB cable.

The weak link in the system I believe is the iPhone DAC.  So, my question is if there is an external, portable DAC solution that would work in this situation or not?

Please let me know if you have any suggestions.  Thanks!

pacificm

Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,381 posts
 

If I understand the situation the DAC being used is on the car side. The iPhone would be sending a digital stream and the B&W converts to analog and amplifies.

 

I think this is correct.

ghdprentice
6,381 posts
 

OP,

The iPhone musically performs three functions in musical streaming… streamer (creates a bit stream, digital) —> DAC (translates bit stream to analog) —> amplifies (here you would use headphones) —> headphone jack (new models do not have one, they expect to use Bluetooth).

You get a digital output (USB) if between the streamer and DAC. You get an analog output if you connect after the DAC (headphone jack).

 

Since you are connected via USB, it must be pre-DAC.

ghdprentice
6,381 posts
 

Huh? No DAC in your iPhone? Of course there is a DAC in your iPhone, otherwise you could not listen to music on your iPhone. You can get a digital output (these days… in the old days that was challenging when there was a 1/8” audio out. 

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